Self-lighting match case.



` l. W. WERTZ. SELF LIGHTING MATCH CASE. APPucATloN man ocr. 11. 1911.

1,274,967. Patented Aug. 6,1918.

K 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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SELF LIGHTING MATGH CASE.

APLlcMloN min ocT. n. 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ing a match, and holding it in position while g `3--3 of Fig. 2,

JOSEPH W. WERTZ, 0F ANDERSON, INDIANA.

SELF-LIGHTING MATCH CASE.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JosFPH W. WERTZ, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Anderson, inthe county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Lighting Match Cases, of which the following is a specication.

`This invention relates to improvements in match strikers.

The prime object of the invention is to provide simpleand inexpensive means for lighting a match, and elevating same in convenient position for use or removal from the casing. i

A further object of the invention is to provide specific means for automatically lightit is moved to cause the head to frictionally engage a friction surface. 1

The invention also comprehends specific improvements in the details of construction andv arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved match lighter,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section, the parts being in position to igniteV a match,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line Fig. 4 is a plan view,

Fig. 5 is a front elevation with the upper portion in section, the parts being in position to hold a lighted match elevated,

Fig. 6 is an end view,

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the match grip,

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the match support. c

1 indicates a casing, the main body portion of which is preferably formed from a single stamped sheet of metal, and comprises a front 1a, back 2, and sides 3, suitably clenched at the adjacent ends ofthe blank, at 4f. The front is formed with an opening 5, and the metal at the sides thereof is bent inwardly toward the back, as at 6 to form iides 7, which terminate some distance from the hack, forming a space about the Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application filed. October 11, 1917. Serial No. 195,991.

Width of a match. The tops of the sides are bent inwardly toward each other as at 8, to close the upper portion of the casing eac-h side the opening 5.' The vback 2, terminates some distance from the top of the front 1, and is bent inwardly as shown at 9.

To the rearof the casing is fastened a flat resilient strip 10, which extends up tothe 1 level of fthe top of the sides 3, one end of the strip overlapping the rear edge of one side 3, while the opposite end is bent around the opposite side 3, and is formed with a i notch 11. The bottom of the strip is bentv in-y wardly at 12, and'joins the top of the back to form the bottom of a match receiving pocket 13.

In the pocket 13, is a match support 14, pivoted at one end at 15. The match supportis formed of resilient material, and in advance of the pivot 15, and when in set position rests on a pin- 16. The free end of the support and to one side thereof is provided with a finger piece 17, and extending therefrom isa lug 18. The lug 18, is designed to engage in a notch 19, formed in the rear edge of one of the sides 3, adjacent the overlapping end of the resilient strip 10. This construction serves as a catch to hold the support yin match lighting position, as will later appear.

In the pocket 13, is a match grip 20, pivoted at 21, under the finger piece 17, and its free end extending toward and beyond the pivot 15. The free end of the match holder is provided with an olfset lug 22, on which the match rests when' seated in the pocket, while about midway ofthe length of the match holder is'a lateral lug 23, which 'lies in the path of the match support, and against which a match rests when seated in the pocket. The lower end of the lug- 22, is slightly extended, andis sharpened as shown at 22a.

Adjacent, and above the free end of the match grip, when the latter is in striking position, is a lug 24, which extends inwardlyy from the casing. The lower end of this lug is sharpened, and is abovethe plane of the top of the lug 22, as shown in Fi 3.

Pivoted in a slot in one side 0F the casing, and in line with the pocket 13, is a small plunger 28, designed to engage one end of a match to force the head against a friction surface 29, on the opposite side of the casing. Matches are inserted in the bottom of the casing, and a cover 30, is fitted thereover,

and a spring and plunger 31, serves to force the opening 5, a match is draWnup against! the Wall 9, and behind the guide lips 7 and into thelpocket 13.

After lthe match viis positioned in theV pocket-,vas shown in Fig. 3, the plunger 28 is forced inwardly to hold theV headI of the match in engagement with theE friction sur face 29, and continuedfpressure on the plun ger f-vvill force theupper end ofthe boxy outs Wardlyfasshownin dotted lines in Fig. `5,

andl f disengages ilug v18 Vfrom its fnotch, .the

resilient match support, Which is nonl under tension on the rod-16,1' quickly acts to throw s the :headed'end of the match upwardly,`whichl rubsthe head against the friction surface' 29 and causesignition. When thev match support "springs lupwardly it engages the lug 23 and rocks the match grip upwardly, v

and in -thislmovement the endr ofthematch is clamped between the lug 22 on the match grip, andtheXed lug 24 extending froml thecasing;"a's shown in Fig. A5.

The luglvi's so disposed as to actas a fulcr-um for the free ende of the-'match when lug" 24 into the other sidewBy this means thellighted-match is held lin a substantially vertical position, While. the casing serves' asf a handle.

After the-match is extinguished,slight L ablematch grip to hold a: match m :elevated4m pressurer aonv the finger piece' 17 vofthe match supportwvill-release the grip of the? lugs,=

and thestem may belremoved.

From thelforegoingy description it will be seen= that. ,l have provided a simple and in expensivemlevice 'foie effectually lighting matches, Iand* automatically' holding the' The V in conjunction to yperform theidesired func-` 1. A matchl lighter'comprising a casing-1' having friction surface; a resilient pivoted match 'support,means for holding the match' support in lset position, a pivotedmatchv grip* lug 18, catches in the notch in latched position, and

operated by the match support, and a fixed match `grip positioned to cooperate with the pivoted match grip to hold a lighted match after the holding meansis released.

2. A match lighter comprising a casing having a friction surface on one Wall thereof, a pivo-tedmatch support in the casing to support a match adjacent the friction surface, a catch to hold the match support in set position, a bar on which thematch support rests to place it under tension when rv7 5 a device operated by the match support to hold the lighted match in elevated position after-thematch support is released. f

3. A matchA lighter comprisinga casingiio Y having a friction surfacefonfone Wallthere-"" set position, a bar on Which thelmatch `sup^'g'85 port rests to place `it under tensionV :When in latched position, a pivoted matchv grip lopers.I

ated by the matchsupport; "and" a fixed match gripy which coperates lWiththepiv-r-v oted match grip to holda matchv in elevatedw position after theicatch is released; r

4. A match lighter comprising meanslfor'" supporting ;a match, i :a plunger disposed above the-plane of the match` supportwto ren-"v ugage andiimovea matchinto strikingposi 95- tion, a movable match "grip-having' a lug to engage a match andoperatedbythe matchv rsupport when the lattery'is released-:by :the action of theV plunger, and` a xedfmatch thrown upwardly by' thej lug '22 when` thel latter is thrown up'v by the'resilient support. Then-Whenfthe match contacts with the lugV 24 and'fis tiltedupwardlythe lug- 22 acts as a Wedgeito'grip thefopposite sidef'ofthevv matchythesharpened end fittingrinto the.l Wood and drives `the sharpened edgeof the.A

5. =A match lighter comprisingrmeanslfon supporting and igniting'a match; resilient 105 means for= holdingnthe match 'supporting v means fin set position',I a movablefmatchfgrip I having a lug to engage afmatchl and operated Aby the match support when the :latter is resiliently operated, anda fixed matchs grip in thefcasing Whichlcoperates avith theimovposition after themresiflient holding means is released, and a plunger locatedabove the plane of the' match-supporting 'aneansato 115 force the match head into positionto :bewignited by friction and to actuate the resilii ent holding means to release theimatclrsup-a yportingmeans.

G. A match Alighter#comprising a casing-120 formed witha transverse matchpocket, andm:

an inclined Wall below sameg'the front-of f thecasing having anvopening, theedge-s; of the'sidefwa'lls of theopening being inclined adjacent the wnocletto 'form a passage :for 125 a matchv to said pocket, a pivotedfresilient match support'in"thel pocket,7 means :for-.-

placing the support under tensionand/.means for holding said support in set position, a In testimony whereof I aiix my signature fixed match grip in the casing, and a pivoted in the presence of two witnesses.

match grip operated by the support to posi- JOSEPH W. WERTZ. tion and hold a match elevated against the Witnesses: l

5 xed match grip when the support is re- WILSON NEWTON, leased. HARRY WERTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

